"Ay, but _I_ am, sir," retorted the mate, who was a thorough outspoken "salt" of the old school; one who, having "come in through the hawse-holes," had worked his way to his present position by acquiring a sound practical knowledge of his profession, and attending strictly to his duties. "It's possible that the crew of some craft--probably a whaler, for we're pretty well out o' the track of other vessels--have been cast away there." "Quite possible," the captain assented, "and we will stand in a little closer. It is our duty to make sure whether such is the case; for we have been mercifully preserved through one of the worst gales that I have ever experienced, and should therefore be all the more ready to render assistance to those who have been less fortunate." "That's truth, sir," rejoined old Weatherhelm, as they descended the fore-rigging, "and 'tis a pity that others don't see things in the same light as you do. We hear a sight too much of distressed vessels being passed by, by those who could help 'em if they'd only the will." So the barque's course was altered, and she stood towards the island. When the passengers heard that there was reason to suppose the island was inhabited, their recent sufferings were forgotten in their excitement; and many and marvellous were the speculations amongst them, as to who, and what, the mysterious islanders could be. One old gentleman declared that they must be savages--probably cannibals--and expressed his decided opinion that the captain had no business to go near them; _he_ was immediately, and most deservedly, snubbed by the ladies, whereupon he retired to his cabin in high dudgeon. Another suggestion was, that some of the passengers and crew of the ocean steamer _President_ (which left New York in March, 1841, and was never seen or heard of afterwards) might have escaped and got ashore on the island; and this notion found great favour with the fair sex, until Captain Ladds, on being appealed to, hinted that they were a _few_ degrees too far to the southward to expect to fall in with any survivors of the long-missing ship--even if such survivors existed, which was not within the bounds of probability. "No, my friends, there can be very little doubt that the _President_ foundered off the banks of Newfoundland," said he, with a mournful shake of the head; "and that poor Roberts and his crew and passengers went down in her. If there are people on yonder island, they will most likely prove to be the crew of some Yankee whaler." As the _Surat Castle_ approached the island all doubt as to its being inhabited was dispelled, for standing on the summit of a conical rock were three wild-looking individuals frantically waving their arms. The barque was then hove-to, and one of the quarter-boats lowered. "May I go in her, Captain Ladds?" asked Tom Flinders, all alive at the prospect of an adventure.